26/ DECEMBER 2025 THE RIDER Confident Horsemanship: Review And Reset For Better Results Next Show Season


pointed or frustrated because you didn’t achieve your goals. It’s natural to feel that way.Instead of focusing on those times you wish you had done better, take the time to regroup, refocus, and learn. You invested so much time, energy,


and money in your training. It’s hard not to feel let down when things didn’t go as you hoped. What matters now are the lessons you take from the experience. How you interpret them will shape your progress moving forward. The past can’t be changed, but your


future is completely in your hands. First, begin by taking an honest


By Anne Gage, Horse Riding Confi- dence Coach – www.confidenthorse- manship.com


When show season ends, self-eval-


uation begins. Looking back on your rides and results, you might feel disap-


Brittany Fraser- Beaulieu


Continued from page 25 Laval, QC,


Olympic team in Tokyo. “He shows no tension in the walk and that is a huge bonus for me in the ring. I’m super excited for our future.” Camille Carier Bergeron of trains with Fraser-


Beaulieu and finished a close second to her coach. Recently named the Canadian Dressage Athlete of the Year for 2025, Bergeron danced her way into the runner-up position riding Finnlanderin, a 15-year-old Oldenburg mare (Fidertanz 2 x Donnerhall 11) she owns together with Gilles Berg- eron, on a score of 75.275%. Rounding out the top three,


Canada’s Denielle Gallagher of Mor- riston, FL, rode her and Ellen Lazarus’ 13-year-old buckskin Lusitano geld- ing, Come Back de Massa (Galopin de la Font x Quixote SDS), to music in- spired by the movie “Spirit”. Their final score tallied at 73.175%, a per-


LongRun’s TB Star of December


Yorkshire is a little,


pocket-sized filly, standing just 15.1h. Foaled in 2020, she is cute as can be and


just as sweet as she looks. She has been started under saddle and is a very lovely, forward ride with very nice movement. If you are inter- ested in meeting Yorkshire, please contact LongRun!


look at what went well. It can feel chal- lenging when mistakes are still fresh in your mind, but it is essential. Remember the: • times you felt in sync with your horse • rounds where your preparation paid off • lessons where your coach acknowl- edged your progress • warm-up where your horse felt confi- dent and responsive.


sonal best. The FEI Dressage World Cup™


Toronto CDI-W is a qualifying event for the 2026 FEI World Cup™ Finals taking place next April in Fort Worth, Texas. While Fraser-Beaulieu earned valuable World Cup qualifying points, she plans to see how the winter season unfolds before making plans to attend. Earlier in the evening, Kristjan


Good of Campbellville, ON, doubled down riding Levi VDL for owner John Kimmel to win the $25,000 Knight- wood Hunter Derby. The pair posted the only score to break 90 with a 94 that was combined with 10 high per- formance and nine handy bonus points to finish on a total of 113 from a start- ing field of 20 horses. Coupled with a win on Sunday in


the $25,000 Braeburn Farms Hunter Derby, Good and the nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding by Arrezzo VDL secured the Lorna Jean Guthrie Challenge Trophy awarded to the Canadian Hunter Derby National Champion. “It means the world to me,” said


Good of his back-to-back victories and eventual national title. “I’ve got one done in the past but never been


Third, These small wins matter. They


show you what is working and remind you that your season was not defined only by the tough times. Second, focus on what lessons this


season taught you by asking yourself this simple question: “What information did this experience give me?”


Maybe you: • Learned that a particular warm-up rou- tine helped you stay calmer or more fo- cused • noticed your horse needed more con- ditioning to stay consistent under pres- sure. • discovered that nerves affected your focus or your mindset wavered when you felt judged.


None of these are bad or a failure.


It’s valuable insight that you wouldn’t have gained without the challenges you faced.


able to win both. The atmosphere here—there’s nothing like it, and it’s so special out there. I loved the course; it was very open and allowed you to gallop, which I’m a big fan of, so it was up my alley for sure.” Levi VDL was competing in the


jumper ring at the start of the 2024 season before making the switch to hunters. Good explained, “He loves the hunter ring, and he looks like a hunter with scope for days. He was al- ways getting time faults in the jumpers, but his jump is what we needed in the hunters. He found his calling.” Closing out the evening’s spot-


light on the hunter discipline, 19-year- old Kyleigh Whitwell of Oshawa, ON, riding Evinrude du Gibet for owner Mark Hayes, was presented with The Posh Award. The special honour is given to the highest scoring junior/am- ateur rider in the Canadian Hunter Derby Championship, generously sponsored by Cawthra Burns in recog- nition of her beloved hunter, Posh. For more information and to pur-


chase tickets for the 2025 Royal Horse Show, visit www.royalfair.org/horse- show/.


Yorkshire think about actionable


changes you can take. Competitive rid- ers progress most by pairing reflection with strategy. Consider what you want to adjust and work on during the off-sea- son. For example, developing a pre-ride routine that keeps you calm and focused, strengthening your horse’s fitness, or improving specific skills that held you back.


The winter off-season is the ideal


time to work on your mental game. Lower pressure, more flexible sched- ules, and space to create new habits. Small changes, applied consistently, can lead to significant progress by spring. It’s equally important to release the


emotional weight of the past season. Holding on to disappointment, frustra- tion, or self-criticism keeps you an- chored to the past. Give yourself permission to let go of those unhelpful emotions. Replace frustration with focus, criticism with clarity, and regret with commitment.


One season doesn’t define you,


your abilities, or your future. Every suc- cessful competitor has faced setbacks and disappointment. What sets them apart is the willingness to take the les- sons, apply them, and return as a stronger, more resilient rider. Start preparing for next show sea-


son now. Apply the insights you gained. Reflect. Plan. Train physically and men- tally with purpose. Trust that the work you put in over the winter will be evi- dent when you return to competition next season.


Author Bio: Anne Gage is a certified riding coach, horse trainer, and mindset expert who helps adult riders release fear, build confidence, and enjoy every ride — at home and in the show ring. Learn more at ConfidentHorseman- ship.com.


Celebrating 60 Years of Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week and


50 Years of Horse Days!


day also includes a lively tradeshow featur- ing tack vendors, businesses, and clubs, plus a hearty roast beef lunch — always a crowd favourite! And if you can’t make it in person, don’t worry — the livestream gives you access to all presentations. Everyone who purchases a ticket will also receive 30-day access to recordings of the day(s) they registered for, so sessions can be revisited at their convenience after the conference.


Call 416-916-1527 www.longrunretirement.com • info@longrunretirement.com


Here’s what to look forward to on Horse Day 2026: • Keynote Presentation: Equine Dentistry with Dr. Ian Bishop, one of the first veteri- narians in Canada to achieve Board Certi- fication in Equine Dentistry. Dr. Bishop will dive into how a horse’s teeth develop, wear, and impact overall health and per- formance. • Selecting and Training Driving Horses with Jim McKague, owner of McKague


from January 7–12, 2026, with Horse Day taking place on Sunday, January 11. Whether you join in person or virtually through the livestream, it’s the perfect way to kick off the new year surrounded by fel- low horse enthusiasts, hands-on learning, and a full day of equine education. Plus, you can pick up some exclusive GBFW 60th Anniversary swag! For those attending in Elmwood, the


is trotting into its 60th year — and Horse Day is ready to shine as it celebrates 50 years of equine excellence! Set for Sunday, January 11, at the Elmwood Community Centre, this year’s program features every- thing from equine dentistry and bit fitting to training drills and driving horses — all designed to spark new ideas and strengthen the bond between horse and rider. The long-standing conference runs


Grey Bruce Farmers’ Week (GBFW)


Stables and a lifelong horseman who will share expert insight into selecting and train- ing horses for successful performance in harness. • Hay(lage) is for Horses! with Christine O’Reilly, OMAFA’s Forage and Grazing Specialist, and Dr. Lisa Costa from Geor- gian Bay Equine Veterinary Services. They will explore the benefits of haylage as a forage option — particularly for horses with Equine Asthma — and key consider- ations for safe and effective feeding. • Bits - from the Horse’s Perspective with bit educator Lisa Wright, who will present on how bit fit affects comfort, communica- tion, and overall performance between horse and rider. • Panel: “My Favourite Drill” featuring Jason & Bronwynne Irwin, hosts of The Horse Trainers TV Show, plus freelance horse trainer and English riding coach Jes- sica Ruppel, who will showcase their go-to exercises for developing responsiveness, connection, and confidence in both horse and rider..


GBFW has become a beloved January tra- dition — a chance to reconnect with friends, refresh knowledge, and get in- spired for the year ahead. Organizers hope this milestone year encourages even more riders, trainers, and equine enthusiasts to join in the fun, whether from the stands in Elmwood or online from anywhere in the world.


and read speaker bios, visit www.gbfw.ca. Mark your calendar for January 11th, 2026 — because you won’t want to miss this special 60th anniversary celebration of GBFW and 50 years of Horse Day!


To buy tickets, see the full agenda,


Why attend? For many equestrians, Horse Day at


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